Work Text:
“You know, I hadn’t even gotten to thinking about it up until recently, but—”
Hakase’s voice was cut off again by the sound of sparks and the muffle of the mask he wore as he welded. His voice was still audible, sure, but it was a mumble of things that Hanazawa really couldn’t pick out among the rest of the noise and the echo in the room— what with how far he was standing and everything, for safety reasons.
“—and before you knew it, just, an anniversary came up! I marked the day twice over but I think I got so excited I forgot about it? Anyway I had to make something, and I came across all this stuff and—”
Again, his voice left. Hanazawa did not have the heart to tell him he wasn’t hearing the entirety of the ramble, but so long as Hakase was enjoying himself it was fine.
“— but I should really do something for them, too, I just realized I didn’t do anything , oh lord—”
That remark made Hanazawa’s mind stutter for a bit. “Who is ‘them’?”
Hakase stopped. “Oh, you know, Kawase-kun and Suizenji-kun.”
This left him more confused. He was half expecting it to be an official he’d never met, or some other someone in some similar position. Instead, it was his friends. “Has there… been any special occasions?”
“Special?”
“Special.” He confirmed with a nod. “You want to do something for them, so something prompted it, right?”
“Special…” Hakase adopted a contemplative air about him, putting a hand up to his chin and subsequently staining it in soot. “Well, it’s not really a special occasion. I don’t think people give gifts for getting together, and it’s been a while since they got together…”
Hanazawa couldn’t help the incredulity in his tone. “They what?”
“Ah, was I not loud enough? Do you need me to repeat something?”
He shook his head. “No, no. I heard you, but… that last bit. What did you say again?”
“It’s been a while since they got together?” Hakase asked, tilting his head.
“Yeah. That.”
He blinked. “Uh… yes. You know, if you keep looking at me like that, I’m going to start thinking I said something wrong…”
“Together as in—?“ Hanazawa did not finish his sentence verbally, instead pinching his fingers all together and bringing his hands together so his fingertips touched in what must have been a crude attempt to make a kissing gesture.
Hakase smiled at such a thing, and mirrored it back to him— though his was considerably bulkier for him on account of the gloves. “That’s right! Ah— Uh… did you not know?” His tone took a downturn into uncertainty as he spoke.
Hanazawa, again, did not say anything. He stared.
“That’s a no.” Hakase mumbled. “That is definitely a no.”
They stood there in silence for a moment, and that moment was enough of an affirmation to know that he had hit the nail right on the head with his statement. Something about it made Hikawa want to die of embarrassment on the spot for a crime he didn’t commit, so he got back to talking to fill the air instead of going back to his welding and leaving the conversation open like a bleeding wound.
“That’s kind of weird. I would’ve thought you knew— you’re like Kawase-kun’s favourite.” He wanted to scratch at the back of his head, but he remembered he shouldn’t and his hand got caught in the air where the motion failed to connect with anything.
Hanazawa shrugged. “They told you?” He asked, lacking anything else to say.
“They told Tamamori-kun, and me by extension, because, you know—”
“That makes sense.”
“Kawase-kun wasn’t happy about it.” He giggled. “But it’s not like he was against it either, he just got in a bad mood. Slightly. Suizenji was a lot nicer about it— hm, maybe I should call him Minakami now? Somehow I feel like an in-law…”
“Didn’t you not quite like him?”
“I like him fine enough nowadays.” There was an air of light finality in that tone that neither of them pressed on. “Anyway, I’m sorry you found out from me. I’m sure they—”
“It’s alright. Kawase kept it from me, I think.” Hanazawa didn’t seem bothered as he said that, just embarrassed. If it had been anyone else, he might have looked stern, but Hakase knew his friend well enough to know exactly why his lips pressed into a thin line like that.
Hanazawa couldn’t help but recall to himself something that happened not long ago, when all three of them had stayed the night at Hikawa manor on Hakase and Tamamori’s insistence; both of them were equally silly in their excitement over the idea of a slumber party, but then again, if they weren’t, it would have been a terribly alarming thing.
He had been happy to humour them— two of his closest friends being so happy about something was wonderful after all— but when he found himself alone with Minakami and Kawase in one of the extra rooms, he couldn’t help but blurt something out. Doesn’t it feel weird? Just being in a couple’s house as single people. It’s like third-wheeling, almost. He had said, and he hadn’t had the space of mind to register when Minakami’s eyes opened and he almost said something.
Yeah. It is a little awkward, isn’t it? Kawase cut whatever he was going to say off with that usual snake-like smile of his. I suppose we’ll have to stick together. As single people. And Hanazawa had agreed wholeheartedly, just slightly relieved.
In hindsight, that was a little bit obvious, but he wasn’t about to dwell on that. Not at all.
“Do you think Kawase would tease me?” He ended up asking Hakase.
“ Tease you ? I can’t see that. According to Tamamori-kun, he thinks you hung the moon.”
That was about as good a source as he was going to get on the subject, and the only one he would hope to to begin with. He sighed deeply, still feeling flustered in a way he wasn’t making an effort to cover up. He oriented himself with a hum.
“Well, when you go get them something, bring me along.” Hanazawa said.
Hakase’s eyes lit up at that, clapping slightly. “You’d come? Of course I’d bring you with me!”
“Good.” He nodded. “I’ll get them something as well.”
“You plan on surprising them?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m sure they’ll love it.” Hakase smiled again, before something clicked in his mind and he tried (and failed) to snap his fingers. “I forgot to get back to my welding, didn’t I?”
The question had been entirely rhetorical but it was answered anyway. “You did.”
“My train of thought too… what was I talking about?”
He looked at Hanazawa somewhat pointedly, but with no trace of pressure or intent, but he got nothing in return when the question was actually genuine. Hanazawa did not speak. He just stared. Hakase stared back.
The silence went on longer than either of them would like to admit. It was something to giggle about afterward.